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Church Divorce Tolerance and Biblical Teaching Conflict

Divorce is defined as the legal dissolution of a marriage [1]. While the Mosaic Law permitted divorce, Jesus' teachings significantly restricted its grounds within the Christian context [2, 3].

The Old Testament law, particularly Deuteronomy 24:1-4, regulated divorce [1, 3]. This passage allowed a man to divorce his wife if he found "some indecency" in her, providing her with a certificate of divorce [13]. This provision was often interpreted broadly by Jewish teachers in Jesus' time. The school of Shammai limited divorce to moral delinquency, while the school of Hillel extended it to trivial matters, such as a wife burning her husband's food [1]. After the Captivity, Jews were even required to dismiss foreign wives married contrary to the law [3]. Women could also obtain divorces [2].

Jesus, however, challenged these interpretations and the casual attitude towards divorce prevalent in his day [3, 10]. In Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus states that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery [13]. Similarly, in Matthew 19:3-9, when questioned by Pharisees about the legality of divorce for any cause, Jesus pointed to God's original design for marriage in Genesis 2:24, where a man and woman become "one flesh" [2]. He declared that "what therefore God has joined together, let not man separate" [2]. Jesus explained that Moses permitted divorce due to the "hardness of heart" of the people, but "from the beginning it was not so" [2]. He reiterated that divorcing one's wife, except for sexual immorality, and marrying another constitutes adultery [3]. Luke 16:18 similarly states that a man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery [10]. Mark 10:2-12 also records Jesus' teaching on divorce, emphasizing that if a man divorces his wife and marries another, he commits adultery against her, and if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery [3].

These precepts from Christ regulate the law of divorce within the Christian Church [3]. The single case of adultery is presented as the only legitimate ground for divorce [3, 13]. Jesus' teaching contrasted sharply with the traditional interpretations of the law by religious teachers and Pharisees, demanding a "surpassing righteousness" that goes beyond merely following rules [12]. He challenged the misapplication of the Old Testament provision for divorce, forbidding casual divorce [13].

The church, as the body of Christ, is called to unity and harmonious relationships [7, 8, 9]. While Jesus' ministry can create divisions, even within families, as people decide for or against God [6, 11], the internal life of the church is to be characterized by peace and mutual care [8, 9]. Strife is identified as a work of the flesh and an evidence of a carnal spirit, which existed in the early church [5]. The teaching that is "in agreement with true religion" is contrasted with "different teaching" that does not align with the words of Jesus Christ [4].

The Christian understanding of divorce, therefore, is rooted in Jesus' reinterpretation of the Mosaic Law, emphasizing the sanctity and permanence of marriage as God's original design, with a narrow exception for sexual immorality [3, 10, 13].

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Divorce — "a legal dissolution of the marriage relation." The law regulating this subject is found (24:1-4) and the cases in which the right of a husband to divorce his wife was lost are stated ibid ., (22:19,29) The ground of divorce is appoint on which the Jewish doctors of the period of the New Testament differed widely; the school of Shammai seeming to limit it to a moral delinquency in the woman, whilst that the Hillel extended it to trifling causes, e.g., if the wife burnt the food she was cooking for her husband. The Pharisees wished perhaps to embroil our Savi”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Divorce — Law of marriage against -- Ge 2:24; Mt 19:6. Permitted By the Mosaic law. -- De 24:1. On account of hardness of heart. -- Mt 19:8. Often sought by the Jews -- Mic 2:9; Mal 2:14. Sought on slight grounds -- Mt 5:31; 19:3. Not allowed to those who falsely accused their wives -- De 22:18,19. Women Could obtain. -- Pr 2:17; Mr 10:12. Could marry after. -- De 24:2. Responsible for vows after. -- Nu 30:9. Married after, could not return to first husband. -- De 24:3,4; Jer 3:1. Afflicted by. -- Isa 54:4,6. Priests not to marry women after -- Le 21:14. Of servants,”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Divorce — The dissolution of the marriage tie was regulated by the Mosaic law (Deut. 24:1-4). The Jews, after the Captivity, were reguired to dismiss the foreign women they had married contrary to the law (Ezra 10:11-19). Christ limited the permission of divorce to the single case of adultery. It seems that it was not uncommon for the Jews at that time to dissolve the union on very slight pretences (Matt. 5:31, 32; 19:1-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18). These precepts given by Christ regulate the law of divorce in the Christian Church.”
  4. I Timothy “I Timothy 6:3 (BBE) — If any man gives different teaching, not in agreement with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the teaching which is in agreement with true religion,”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
  6. Luke “They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” -- Luke 12:53”
  7. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:12: 12:12-31 The church is like a body (see 12:27) composed of many different parts, each with its own function as determined by God (see 12:11, 18, 28; Rom 12:4-5).”
  8. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:15: 3:15 Just as Christ is one, so there can be only one body of Christ (see 1:18; Eph 4:4-6). Allegiance to Jesus as Lord must transcend differences and will result in peace (harmonious relationships).”
  9. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:25: 12:25-26 The church is a unified body, so harmony and care for each other in the church is essential.”
  10. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 16:18: 16:18 This example fit the context by showing that Jesus’ authoritative words interpreted and fulfilled the Old Testament law. • a man who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery: The Old Testament allowed for divorce but did not sanction it (Deut 24:1-4), and the rabbis of Jesus’ day debated what constituted legitimate grounds. The school of Shammai allowed a man to divorce his wife only because of unfaithfulness, while the school of Hillel allowed divorce for almost any reason. Against such a casual attitude, Jesus said that breaking the marri”
  11. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 12:51: 12:51-53 I have come to divide people: Jesus’ ministry demands a decision for or against God that divides even family members.”
  12. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 5:21: 5:21-47 You have heard. . . . But I say: Jesus contrasts his own teaching to six misinterpretations of the law. Each antithesis provides an example of the surpassing righteousness of Jesus. Jesus reveals the will of God as it contrasts with traditions. 5:21 our ancestors were told: The expression refers to the traditional interpretation of the teachers of religious law and Pharisees. Though their traditions prohibited murder, they did not prohibit hatred. The surpassing righteousness of Jesus demands reconciliation (5:23-24); merely refraining from committing mur”
  13. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 5:31: 5:31-32 Jesus challenges the misapplication of the Old Testament provision for divorce (see Deut 24:1-4; cp. Matt 19:3-9): Following the rules does not make divorce acceptable. Jesus allows only one legitimate reason for divorce, sexual infidelity, and forbids casual divorce (see also 1 Cor 7:10-11). 5:31 A notice of divorce is a document stating the legality of a divorce. Evidence suggests that such a document permitted remarriage. “The essential formula in the notice of divorce is, ‘Lo, you are free to marry any man.’ . . . The essential formula in a writ of em”
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